Rules & Privileges
This U.S. agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service.
What is the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)?
The FCC administers the U.S. amateur radio rules in Part 97.
2026-2030 pool: T1A02
The procedural signal CQ is an invitation to this group of stations.
What is any station?
CQ is a general call inviting a contact, rather than a call to one specific station.
2026-2030 pool: T2A08
In free space, radio waves travel at this familiar speed.
What is the speed of light?
Radio waves travel at approximately 300 million meters per second in free space.
2026-2030 pool: T3B04
Electric current is measured in these units, often shortened to amps.
What are amperes?
Current is measured in amperes (A); voltage is measured in volts (V).
2026-2030 pool: T5A01
This protective component opens a circuit to remove power during a current overload.
What is a fuse?
A fuse interrupts excessive current. Use the specified type and rating.
2026-2030 pool: T0A04
An FCC-issued amateur radio license normally remains valid for this many years.
What is 10 years?
The normal license term is ten years. Keep your license current to continue operating.
2026-2030 pool: T1C08
This term describes transmitting and receiving on the same frequency.
What is simplex?
Simplex lets nearby stations communicate directly on one frequency.
2026-2030 pool: T2A11
As a radio signal's frequency increases, its wavelength changes in this way.
What is it gets shorter?
Frequency and wavelength vary inversely: wavelength in meters is approximately 300 divided by frequency in MHz.
2026-2030 pool: T3B05
This component opposes the flow of current in a DC circuit.
What is a resistor?
Resistance limits current for a given applied voltage and is measured in ohms.
2026-2030 pool: T6A01
Connect this device in place of an antenna to test a transmitter without intentionally radiating a signal over the air.
What is a dummy load?
A properly rated dummy load absorbs transmitter power and turns it into heat.
2026-2030 pool: T7C01
During a communication, you must give your assigned call sign at least this often, and also at this other required time.
What are every 10 minutes and at the end of the communication?
Both requirements apply: identify during longer contacts and when the communication ends.
2026-2030 pool: T1F03
This is the common repeater offset on the 2-meter band. Give the magnitude and units.
What is 600 kHz (0.600 MHz), plus or minus?
The transmit and receive frequencies commonly differ by 600 kHz on 2 meters.
2026-2030 pool: T2A01
This region of the atmosphere can reflect HF radio waves, enabling distant contacts.
What is the ionosphere?
Ionospheric propagation can carry HF signals well beyond the horizon.
2026-2030 pool: T3A11
This is the basic unit of capacitance.
What is the farad?
Capacitance describes electric-field energy storage. Common capacitors are marked in microfarads, nanofarads, or picofarads.
2026-2030 pool: T5C02
Even after a power supply is switched off, these components may retain a hazardous electric charge.
What are filter capacitors?
Switching off power does not guarantee that stored charge has disappeared. Capacitors must be safely discharged before internal work.
2026-2030 pool: T0A11
Technicians may use SSB phone in this frequency range on the 10-meter band. Give both endpoints in MHz.
What is 28.300 to 28.500 MHz?
This is the Technician 10-meter phone segment. Keep the entire transmitted signal inside the authorized segment.
2026-2030 pool: T1B01
This five-letter abbreviation names the sub-audible tone system that can open a receiver's squelch along with your voice signal.
What is CTCSS?
Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System uses a selected low-frequency tone for receiver access.
2026-2030 pool: T2B02
This is the most common characteristic impedance of coaxial cable used in amateur radio.
What is 50 ohms?
Many amateur transceivers and antenna systems are designed around a 50-ohm impedance.
2026-2030 pool: T9B02
A circuit draws 1.5 amperes when 12 volts are applied. This is its resistance.
What is 8 ohms?
Ohm's law: R = E / I = 12 / 1.5 = 8 ohms.
2026-2030 pool: T5D05
When locating an antenna near power lines, even if it falls, every part must remain at least this far from the power wires.
What is 10 feet?
Plan for the full falling reach of the antenna and its supports when choosing a location.
2026-2030 pool: T0B06
A station's transmitting frequency privileges are determined by the license class of this person.
Who is the control operator?
The control operator's license class determines the station's frequency privileges.
2026-2030 pool: T1E04
This digital mode, named with two letters and a number, can make contacts at low signal-to-noise ratios.
What is FT8?
FT8 is designed for weak-signal digital contacts. Operators must still follow their frequency privileges.
2026-2030 pool: T8D02
A half-wave dipole radiates its strongest signal in this direction relative to the wire.
What is broadside, or perpendicular to the wire?
The strongest radiation is to the sides of the dipole, rather than off its ends.
2026-2030 pool: T9A10
A DC supply delivers 13.8 volts at 10 amperes. This is the electrical power delivered.
What is 138 watts?
DC power: P = E x I = 13.8 x 10 = 138 watts.
2026-2030 pool: T5C09
For RF exposure averaging, this term means the percentage of time a transmitter is actually transmitting.
What is duty cycle?
Duty cycle affects average RF exposure: more transmitting time means greater average exposure, with other factors unchanged.
2026-2030 pool: T0C11